HEPATIC AND ANTIOXIDANT ENZYME ACTIVITIES, LIPID PROFILE, AND OXIDATIVE STRESS LEVELS IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS TREATED WITH TERMINALIA CATAPPA AQUEOUS NUT EXTRACT

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is still without a cure, and there is a need to manage and prevent its related complications. Terminalia catappa is a locally consumed, nutritive fruit whose nut is considered waste. Hence, this study evaluated the effects of Terminalia catappa aqueous nut extract (TCANE) on hepatic and antioxidant enzymes, lipid profiles, and oxidative stress levels in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Twenty-four (24) Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n=6): control (group 1), diabetic untreated (group 2), and diabetic groups treated with TCANE (300 mg/ kg) and glibenclamide (groups 3 and 4, respectively). We used PyRx and Biovia Discovery Studio for molecular docking studies, and SwissADME and ProTox to predict ADME/T properties.  The results from this study showed that the TCANE-treated group had antioxidant enzyme [superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)] activities that were significantly (p˂0.05) higher, and hepatic enzyme [alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)] activities that were significantly (p˂0.05) lower, than in the untreated diabetic rats. Additionally, we observed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The in silico studies showed strong 2D and 3D interactions between TCANE bioactive compounds (epicatechin, sapogenin, and flavone) and the selected key diabetes-related proteins. ADME/T analysis showed good pharmacokinetic properties, with acceptable absorption, metabolism, and non-toxicity. These findings suggest that Terminalia catappa could be a potential therapeutic agent for managing diabetes and its related complications rather than being discarded after consuming the fruit.